Minolta 5400 II Repair

[Jes]

I have been using a Minolta 5400 II for the last year with very good
results.
Last weekend I hit a major stopping point. The scanner will not accept the
holder
and gives various errors depending on state.

I did some internet searches and it seems that this is the Achilles heel for
this scanner.
Lots of reports of this issue in forums and reviews. From the items, it
seems
that this is not a user fixable item. A small plastic part is worn and needs
replacing.
There was one report of hearing about someone else who was able to do a user
repair,
but no details on who or how.

Worse news is that some folks have faced this issue more than once. It just
keeps
wearing out and so every so often you need to replace. Apparently Minolta
has not
re-engineered this weak part.

As many of you know Minolta sold out the scanner business to Sony. Word in
the forums
is no improvement from them. As near as I can tell from their web site, they
offer only a
flat rate repair for $111-181 plus postage. Hard to tell scanner models on
the dropdown list.

I have another couple of years of scanning remaining. So the question is to
send this unit in
for repair knowing it will have a finite life before another repair is
needed, or put money into a
different scanner such as a Nikon.

Anyone have any experience sending a unit into Sony for repair?
Any other recommendations thoughts?

Thanks
John

 

[tomm42]

I have been using a Minolta 5400 II for the last year with very good
results.
Last weekend I hit a major stopping point. The scanner will not accept the
holder
and gives various errors depending on state.

I did some internet searches and it seems that this is the Achilles heel for
this scanner.
Lots of reports of this issue in forums and reviews. From the items, it
seems
that this is not a user fixable item. A small plastic part is worn and needs
replacing.
There was one report of hearing about someone else who was able to do a user
repair,
but no details on who or how.

Worse news is that some folks have faced this issue more than once. It just
keeps
wearing out and so every so often you need to replace. Apparently Minolta
has not
re-engineered this weak part.

As many of you know Minolta sold out the scanner business to Sony. Word in
the forums
is no improvement from them. As near as I can tell from their web site, they
offer only a
flat rate repair for $111-181 plus postage. Hard to tell scanner models on
the dropdown list.

I have another couple of years of scanning remaining. So the question is to
send this unit in
for repair knowing it will have a finite life before another repair is
needed, or put money into a
different scanner such as a Nikon.

Anyone have any experience sending a unit into Sony for repair?
Any other recommendations thoughts?

Thanks

So after packing the scanner well and sending it to Sony/Minolta it
will cost $250-$300 max. If this is a first time repair I'd give the
scanner the benefit of doubt and repair it. If it breaks again in under
a year, then replace, if it takes a year + to break, well you have this
question again. My experience with scanner repair is that the scanner
comes back working much better than it went in, (not hard in this
case).
Replacements you should think about (I really would repair this time)
is the Nikon LS5000 and the Epson V700 (yes I know it is a flatbed, but
I use one and it really is a good film scanner also 12 slides at a time
and is fast). I wouldn't look at the less expensive Nikon, too slow.

Tom

 

[Jes]

Thanks for the advice.

I do have an interest in the Epson V700 as I have some minor 35mm to do as
well as some 2 1/4 negs.
It's seems most folks view it as acceptable, just not as good as a film
scanner.

John

 

[tomm42]

Thanks for the advice.

I do have an interest in the Epson V700 as I have some minor 35mm to do as
well as some 2 1/4 negs.
It's seems most folks view it as acceptable, just not as good as a film
scanner.

John

I've stopped using my Nikon LS2000, cause the scans are a toss up with
the V700. The V700 is much faster.

Tom